I came across this quote from William Faulkner:
“The past is never forgotten. In fact, it’s not even the past.”
This brings to mind the rings of a tree. As the tree forms, each year it develops a new ring. These rings are what makes the tree sturdy, strong. If lost or forgotten, the tree tumbles. The past exists now and is a vital part of what we do now and in the future.
The moment of time is an interesting meditation. I would say that the [I]present[/I] is now. But at what point does the present moment become the past, and a new moment becomes the present?
Sometimes I think that things like tree rings and geological records are the akashic records, in a real sense.
The present is like a hinge on time, like the doorway between past and future. The thing about the past is that we can’t change it. No matter how many times we relive it in our minds, what’s done is done. The future though, is not yet set in stone. What we do now determines what the future will be.
In another sense, even though we can’t change the past, we sometimes have to do a lot of work to change the [I]effects[/I] of past actions. We could get a lot farther in life if we could spend less time repairing the effects of past actions and more time thinking about what we would like the future to be.
The moment we are aware of the present - in that small fraction of time - it becomes the past and as unchanging as the rings of the tree. The trick is to live slightly in the future.
At the risk of mixing metaphors - it’s a bit like walking where our awareness is in the coming step.
"The past is never forgotten. In fact, it’s not even the past."
This is the problem. [B]There is no balance between past and future.[/B]
[QUOTE=Asuri;27214]The moment of time is an interesting meditation. I would say that the [I]present[/I] is now. [/QUOTE] To stay in the Present is the way to continue our Evolution. [B]This means thoughtless awareness-Nirvichar Samadhi. [/B]
But at what point does the present moment become the past, and a new moment becomes the present?
This was supposed to be a rhetorical question. I’m not sure anyone really knows the answer. If you think in terms of electronics and computer technology, a moment of time can be almost infinitesimally small. On the other hand, if you think in terms of geological or astronomical time, what seems like eons to us is insignificant. So it all boils down to perception and relativity.
Time is pervasive. All existence, every sensory perception, thought, and action takes place within the matrix of time and space. Time is part of the fabric of reality, or of maya, depending on what you believe. Our experience of gross reality takes place in the present time, the eternal now. Our more subtle nature, the mind, is not limited to the present. But we do not experience past and future in the same way that we experience reality. We know our own past as memory. We can also know the past as knowledge that we learn from sources outside ourselves. All learned knowledge is knowledge of the past. Likewise our mind cannot experience the future, it can only imagine what the future will be. A point of time in the future can take any form we desire until that point in time becomes the present. The present determines what that point in time and space will remain, until it is forgotten. Ultimately, experience is ephemeral.
To be here now means simply to restrict our mind from memories and imaginations, and focus it on the present. It is only in the present that we can see or hear or feel or think or know anything, or experience the presence of another.
The notion of ‘thoughtless awareness’ sounds a bit too much like sitting around pretending to be a plant. We are human blessed with thoughts and ideas. I prefer to embrace these.
I too have a bit of a problem with “thoughtless awareness”. Nirvicara is a technical term. Vicara refers to contemplation of subtle objects. Savicara would be contemplation with the help of conceptualization including verbal knowledge. Nirvicara means not only without the help of words, but also without the help of memory. But even though nirvicara involves limiting the mind to direct perception, cognitive activity still occurs. Nirvicara may be considered the more advanced state, but savicara may be the more useful state.
“Not even God can change the past.”
The best thing we can do about the past is learn from it.
well in the past I was in a car crash, I can remember it now but it is not happening now
[QUOTE=Asuri;27214]But at what point does the present moment become the past, and a new moment becomes the present?[/QUOTE]
when you are trying to recreate it, however it will still not be the same
now
[QUOTE=FlexPenguin;27288]The notion of ‘thoughtless awareness’ sounds a bit too much like sitting around pretending to be a plant. We are human blessed with thoughts and ideas. I prefer to embrace these.[/QUOTE]
[B]If the thoughts were ours why we don’t know what we will think after 10 min?[/B] 
[QUOTE=Asuri;27293]I too have a bit of a problem with “thoughtless awareness”. Nirvicara is a technical term.[/QUOTE]Patanjali uses the term [B]Nirvitark? = beyond thought[/B]
This is the same as Nirvichar.
I.43 sm?ti-pari?uddhau svar?pa-??nyev?rtha-m?tra-nirbh?s? nirvitark?
[B]At the next stage, called coalescence beyond thought, objects cease to be colored by memory; now formless, only their essential nature shines forth.[/B]
I will open new thread regarding connection between [B]thoughts and Ida, Pingala and Sushumna Nadi. [/B]
[QUOTE=Seeker33;27314][B]If the thoughts were ours why we don’t know what we will think after 10 min?[/B] :)[/QUOTE]
Seeker33, I know that there is something in your post, but I can’t quite grasp it. I can probably expound for hours or days on thought, energy, time, light, matter, etc. It is a favourite topic of mine and the study of quantum theory a passionate hobby. I can even draw direct correlations to spirituality and God. But this will require a bit more than thoughtless awareness.
From your posts you seem quite thoughtful yourself. They are your own or you are channeling someone else’s. Either way, I love to read them 
Again, in the Present there is no thoughts. Enjoy the Present.
Well, are you Seeker or no need to seek anymore because already founder?
If
Nir = Nir, and
Vitarka = Vicara, then,
Nirvitarka = Nirvicara.
But,
Vitarka != Vicara; therefore,
Nirvitarka != Nirvicara.
I still don’t like “beyond thought”. There’s more to it.
I think it’s fair to say that the [I]process[/I] is the same, regardless of whether concentration involves vitarka or vicara, but there is a difference in the type of object upon which the mind is concentrated (gross vs.subtle). Also in my view it is necessary to pass through savitarka in order to reach nirvitarka, and the same applies to savicara nirvicara.
[QUOTE=Asuri;27407]Well, are you Seeker or no need to seek anymore because already founder? [/QUOTE]Seeker is my message to others, not my real self.
“Vichara” means fluctuation, subtle thoughts of our consciousness
There are two types of contact knowledge in Yoga Sutra:
SaVichara - with subtle thoughts
NirVichara - without subtle thoughts
[QUOTE=Asuri;27410]Also in my view it is necessary to pass through savitarka in order to reach nirvitarka, and the same applies to savicara nirvicara.[/QUOTE]
When Kundalini is awakened this process is very fast. Once Kundalini passes through Ajna chakra, Nirvicara state is established. It’s a nice feeling.
You have no idea what you’re talking about. Are you some kind of spook?